Libraries · head to head
Hoopla vs Libby
Hoopla
Libraries
Free library streaming app with instant borrowing, capped by a monthly checkout limit set by your library
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Libby
Libraries
Free ebook and audiobook app from OverDrive, gated entirely on an active public library card
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Hoopla the monthly borrow limit is a hard cap, so a heavy user runs out of checkouts partway through the month and simply cannot borrow more, unlike a queue they can wait out.; Libby popular and new titles are frequently unavailable for weeks or months due to holds queues, which makes it unreliable for reading something the day you want to start it.
- They diverge on capability: Hoopla covers Instant borrowing, Libby covers Library card authentication.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Hoopla and Libby actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Libraries).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Hoopla
- Instant borrowing
- Video and music
- Monthly borrow cap
- Comics and graphic novels
- Kids mode
- Offline downloads
Only in Libby
- Library card authentication
- Holds queues
- Multi-library support
- OverDrive Read and Listen
- Send to Kindle
- Tags and shelves
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Hoopla
- A patron who wants to watch a specific movie or listen to an album tonight without waiting in a queuenot Libby
- A family wanting streaming video and music alongside books in one library-card appnot Libby
- A light-to-moderate reader whose habits fit comfortably inside a monthly borrow capnot Libby
- Someone using a Roku or Fire TV who wants library video content on the living room screennot Libby
Libby
- A reader who wants free access to bestsellers and is willing to wait weeks in a holds queue for popular new releasesnot Hoopla
- Someone who holds cards for multiple library systems and wants to widen their available catalogue in one appnot Hoopla
- A reader who wants ebooks sent directly to a Kindle without buying themnot Hoopla
- A budget-conscious reader who already pays library taxes and wants to use the benefit fully instead of also paying for Everand or Storytelnot Hoopla
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Hoopla
- The monthly borrow limit is a hard cap, so a heavy user runs out of checkouts partway through the month and simply cannot borrow more, unlike a queue they can wait out.
- Borrow limits and even Hoopla availability itself vary by library and can be reduced if a library needs to control its licensing costs, sometimes with little notice to patrons.
- Because libraries pay per checkout, a library under budget pressure may cut its Hoopla limit or drop the service entirely, which is a risk outside the app.
- The video and music catalogue is decent but noticeably smaller than Netflix or Spotify, so it is a supplement, not a replacement, for those services.
- Audio and video quality and metadata are sometimes inconsistent, particularly for older or niche titles licensed from smaller distributors.
Libby
- Popular and new titles are frequently unavailable for weeks or months due to holds queues, which makes it unreliable for reading something the day you want to start it.
- Borrow and hold limits are set per library, so the experience is inconsistent between library systems and can change without notice.
- Not every library subscribes to OverDrive, and even those that do vary hugely in how many digital copies of any given title they can afford to licence.
- It requires a real library card tied to residency or another eligibility rule in most systems, so it is not available to everyone regardless of willingness to pay.
- There is no offline bulk downloading beyond what is borrowed, and loan periods expire automatically, returning the book whether or not you finished it.
Pricing, plan by plan
Hoopla
Free- HooplaFree
- Free with an eligible library card
- Monthly borrow limit set by your library, commonly 5 to 15 items
- No holds queues, instant availability
Libby
Free- LibbyFree
- Free with an eligible library card
- Borrow limits set by your library, not Libby
- Holds queues on licensed copies
Which should you pick?
Choose Hoopla if
- You need instant borrowing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web, Roku, Amazon Fire TV.
- You also want video and music.
Choose Libby if
- You need library card authentication.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web, Kindle (for ebooks).
- You also want holds queues.
Questions people ask
- Is Hoopla or Libby better?
- Neither clearly leads. Hoopla starts at Free and Libby at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Hoopla or Libby?
- Hoopla starts at Free and Libby at Free.
- Does Hoopla or Libby run on more platforms?
- Hoopla runs on iOS, Android, Web, Roku, Amazon Fire TV. Libby runs on iOS, Android, Web, Kindle (for ebooks).
- Can I use Hoopla for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Hoopla best used for?
- Hoopla is most often used for a patron who wants to watch a specific movie or listen to an album tonight without waiting in a queue, a family wanting streaming video and music alongside books in one library-card app, a light-to-moderate reader whose habits fit comfortably inside a monthly borrow cap, someone using a roku or fire tv who wants library video content on the living room screen. Of those, a patron who wants to watch a specific movie or listen to an album tonight without waiting in a queue and a family wanting streaming video and music alongside books in one library-card app are not what Libby is typically brought in for.
- What can Hoopla do that Libby cannot?
- Hoopla covers Instant borrowing, Video and music, Monthly borrow cap, Comics and graphic novels. Libby covers Library card authentication, Holds queues, Multi-library support, OverDrive Read and Listen.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Hoopla: Does Hoopla have holds queues like Libby?
No, everything is available instantly, but your library sets a monthly limit on how many items you can borrow.
Libby: Do I pay for Libby?
No, it is free, but you need an active card from a library that uses the OverDrive/Libby system.
Hoopla: What happens when I hit my monthly limit?
You cannot borrow anything further until the limit resets, usually on the first of the next month.
Libby: Why is the book I want unavailable?
Libraries licence a limited number of digital copies, so popular titles go into a holds queue just like physical books.
Hoopla: Does Hoopla include movies and music, not just books?
Yes, that is one of its main differences from Libby, which only offers ebooks, audiobooks and magazines.
Libby: Can I use Libby without a library card?
No, a valid card and PIN from a participating library are required for every feature.
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